Activist Dan Choi Arrested At White House

[+ Lucky]

towleroad.com has been following the actions today of activist Dan Choi, a West Point honors graduate and Arab linguist who has been discharged from the Army under DADT. Apparently the Human Rights Campaign, supposedly a gay activist group, but nowadays more of a gay Uncle Tom group, refused Choi permission to speak at a Kathy Griffin rally in D.C.

Griffin herself allowed Choi to join her, and, since the HRC rally was about over, asked people to follow him in a march to the White House to demand equal rights. Upon arrival there, Choi and another soldier chained themselves to the White House fence, and were then shortly thereafter arrested, reportedly spending the night in jail.

I admire Choi for his efforts. It reminds me of another time, when anti-war activists took it upon themselves to stand up and speak up. You can follow the story at the towleroad.com blog.

http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0120a9502989970b-500wi

[+ Lucky]

"A gay solider tried to inappropriately touched me once when I was in the military and did other inappropriate things. I could have reported him but I didn't. I wonder whether I did the right thing."

 

greatness, if you had been an openly gay soldier, do you think he would have touched you? Is that what you think this thread is about- getting touched inappropriately by a gay soldier?

[+ Lucky]

Those gay soldiers.

Ex-general links gay troops to Bosnian genocide

 

 

Updated 6:27 p.m. ET

A retired Marine general told senators on Thursday that the Dutch Army failed to protect the city of Srebrenica during the Bosnian war partly because of the presence of gay soldiers in its armed forces.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/03/ex-general_links_gay_troops_to.html?hpid=topnews

[Guest greatness]

well

 

Your post simply reminded me of what happened to me in the military. I think if gays had been accepted in the military then, I would have reported him immediately to discipline him. I didn't though. I wonder whether it was because to protect him or for some other reasons. I should have reported him though because he committed a crime not long after. Since my post was kind of just stating something that occurred to me by reading your post I deleted it. I can see some relevance but it may not be to others. My apology.

 

greatness, if you had been an openly gay soldier, do you think he would have touched you? Is that what you think this thread is about- getting touched inappropriately by a gay soldier?

[Boomer]

Your post simply reminded me of what happened to me in the military. I think if gays had been accepted in the military then, I would have reported him immediately to discipline him. I didn't though. I wonder whether it was because to protect him or for some other reasons. I should have reported him though because he committed a crime not long after. Since my post was kind of just stating something that occurred to me by reading your post I deleted it. I can see some relevance but it may not be to others. My apology.

 

So...when you were in the military you were not gay?

[+ Lucky]

greatness' response surprised me. To discuss the issue of DADT, or the merits of Dan Choi's behavior, good or bad, he could only come up with the incident that he had some years ago, and that bears absolutely no relevance to the subject at hand.

Perhaps Choi is foolish to do what he did, perhaps not. But to try to turn the thread into a discussion gays being molesters is simply shocking.

[Guest greatness]

well

 

I was not out and in denial and I didn't do anything with guys until I was in late 20s.

 

So...when you were in the military you were not gay?

[Guest greatness]

I didn't mean it that way

 

You know that Lucky, I didn't mean it that way. I was pointing out a situation where DADT hindered me from reporting him. I could have. I know it is an isolated case and I am still confused about what I should have done. I thought there was a relevance because I didn't come forward at least to give him the benefit of the doubt and a bit unfair for him if I reported him. My understanding is that if I reported him at that time he would have kicked out of the military. I apologize again if I offended you. If gays were accepted in the military and he could only be punished for what he had done then I would have certainly reported him.

 

greatness' response surprised me. To discuss the issue of DADT, or the merits of Dan Choi's behavior, good or bad, he could only come up with the incident that he had some years ago, and that bears absolutely no relevance to the subject at hand.

Perhaps Choi is foolish to do what he did, perhaps not. But to try to turn the thread into a discussion gays being molesters is simply shocking.

[Guest mvan1]

Strange exchange of accusations/denials

 

I read this forum every now and again. Most threads in this forum have at least an exchange of ideas.

 

I must say that this particular thread ranks in the category of over the top.

 

By the way, thanks for the story about the incident in Washington.

[+ Lucky]

Here is a follow-up, with Choi's comments today. I can't say that I agree with him in total, but I do admire him for taking a stand on DADT which puts the cocktail class on its ass:

 

http://www.towleroad.com/2010/03/watch-lt-dan-choi-speaks-following-court-hearing.html

[JackTwist]

Thanks for posting this thread, Lucky. Lt. Choi is an inspiration. His eloquence and intelligence is matched by his courage. God bless him.

[CowboyUp]

At long last, what the LGBT movement has needed for a long time, peaceful civil disobedience! The time for hope has long past. You may have heard the old adage, "People in hell hope for ice-water" but, of course, they don't get it. We need more activists like Lt. Choi, who are willing to take risks to achieve equality. Gay men and lesbians, across the country, should flood their local recruitment centers to enlist. When they TELL the recruitment officer that they are gay, they will be denied the right to enlist and asked to leave. THEY SHOULD NOT LEAVE. I am certain that their arrests will further our cause.

 

As a veteran and an American I support repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" as a move toward equal treatment of all citizens.

[GoodFella69]

End DADT Now.

 

I agree with Cowboy. No gay soldier should have to keep silent about their orientation. DADT is institutionalization of prejudice and discrimination and is an embarrassment to all Americans. It makes all of us, including our government, look cruel, ignorant, and foolish. End it now.

[+ Lucky]

AmeriaBlog reports:

 

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mxw-sYc_F0/S6hYGJta0VI/AAAAAAAAoxU/TK8xOQCTsao/s400/choi.jpgGay Justice: Lt. Dan Choi feels betrayed by HRC and Kathy Griffin. and says the cops refused him phone call and lawyer while in jail. In a revealing new interview, he said: "When I heard Kathy Griffin was going to be a spokeswoman for Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I wondered about that. I have great respect for her as an advocate. But if [the Human Rights Campaign] thinks that having a rally at Freedom Plaza with a comedienne is the right approach, I have to wonder. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not a joking matter to me. ...Kathy Griffin and [hrC president] Jay Solmonese said they would march with me to the White House but didn’t. I feel so betrayed by them." (Can't say I didn't see this coming.)

 

And, from Newsweek:

 

"Within the gay community so many leaders want acceptance from polite society. I think there's been a betrayal of what is down inside of us in order to achieve what looks popular, what look enviable. The movement seems to be centered around how to become an elite. There is a deep schism [in the gay-rights movement], everyone knows this. But this shouldn't be about which group has better branding. There is a tremor right now in every gay and transgender youth that these groups are not grasping. I would say to them—you do not represent us if all you are looking for is a ladder in to elite society. When I get messages from people who want to be a part of this I ask back: what are you willing to sacrifice? We are tired of being stereotyped as privileged, bourgeois elites. Is someone willing to give up their career, their relationships with powerful people, their Rolodex, or their parents' love to stand up for who they are? I'm giving up my military rank, my unit—which to me is a family—my veterans' benefits, my health care, so what are you willing to sacrifice?" — "Ghandi (sic) did not need three-course dinners and a cocktail party to get his message out."